Bioremediation of heavy metals in palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Chlorella vulgaris: A biological approach
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) poses a significant threat to water and soil ecosystems due to high loads of organic pollutants and toxic heavy metals such as copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). This study evaluates Chlorella vulgaris as a sustainable microalgal solution for heavy met...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Cleaner Water |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950263225000328 |
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| author | Hemen Emmanuel Jijingi Sara Kazemi Yazdi Yousif Abdalla Abakr Azalea Dyah Maysarah Satya |
| author_facet | Hemen Emmanuel Jijingi Sara Kazemi Yazdi Yousif Abdalla Abakr Azalea Dyah Maysarah Satya |
| author_sort | Hemen Emmanuel Jijingi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Palm oil mill effluent (POME) poses a significant threat to water and soil ecosystems due to high loads of organic pollutants and toxic heavy metals such as copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). This study evaluates Chlorella vulgaris as a sustainable microalgal solution for heavy metal bioremediation in POME under two cultivation conditions: POME plus synthetic growth medium plus C. vulgaris (PSC, 2:1) and POME plus C. vulgaris (PC, 1:1), alongside a control. Heavy metal concentrations were quantified over 14 days using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, validated with calibration curves showing strong linearity (e.g., Cu: Abs = 0.05504 Conc. + 0.011839, R² = 0.9746; Cd: Abs = 0.26909 Conc. + 0.012259, R² = 0.9637). Removal followed triphasic kinetics: rapid adsorption onto cell-wall functional groups, intracellular bioaccumulation mediated by phytochelatins, and a residual polishing phase. Maximum removal efficiencies reached 98.99 % (Cu), 99.24 % (Cd), 99.29 % (Fe), and 99.92 % (Zn) for PSC. ANOVA confirmed significant effects of treatment condition and time on metal concentration reduction (e.g., Cu: F = 35.29–166.48, P < 0.000001). Under optimum PSC (2:1) culture conditions, maximum removal efficiencies were achieved, reaching 98.99 % for Cu, 99.24 % for Cd, 99.29 % for Fe, and 99.92 % for Zn within 14 days, significantly outperforming the PC (1:1) setup. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² > 0.95) described the adsorption process, confirming chemisorption dominance. The results demonstrate that nutrient-enhanced C. vulgaris cultures provide a cost-effective, green strategy for POME heavy metal removal while generating valuable biomass, supporting circular bioeconomy practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b35afb5c949c4a5cba5a8dc5bc55aa6d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2950-2632 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cleaner Water |
| spelling | doaj-art-b35afb5c949c4a5cba5a8dc5bc55aa6d2025-08-20T03:49:49ZengElsevierCleaner Water2950-26322025-12-01410009410.1016/j.clwat.2025.100094Bioremediation of heavy metals in palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Chlorella vulgaris: A biological approachHemen Emmanuel Jijingi0Sara Kazemi Yazdi1Yousif Abdalla Abakr2Azalea Dyah Maysarah Satya3Corresponding author.; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Semenyih, Selangor 43500, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Semenyih, Selangor 43500, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Semenyih, Selangor 43500, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Semenyih, Selangor 43500, MalaysiaPalm oil mill effluent (POME) poses a significant threat to water and soil ecosystems due to high loads of organic pollutants and toxic heavy metals such as copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). This study evaluates Chlorella vulgaris as a sustainable microalgal solution for heavy metal bioremediation in POME under two cultivation conditions: POME plus synthetic growth medium plus C. vulgaris (PSC, 2:1) and POME plus C. vulgaris (PC, 1:1), alongside a control. Heavy metal concentrations were quantified over 14 days using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, validated with calibration curves showing strong linearity (e.g., Cu: Abs = 0.05504 Conc. + 0.011839, R² = 0.9746; Cd: Abs = 0.26909 Conc. + 0.012259, R² = 0.9637). Removal followed triphasic kinetics: rapid adsorption onto cell-wall functional groups, intracellular bioaccumulation mediated by phytochelatins, and a residual polishing phase. Maximum removal efficiencies reached 98.99 % (Cu), 99.24 % (Cd), 99.29 % (Fe), and 99.92 % (Zn) for PSC. ANOVA confirmed significant effects of treatment condition and time on metal concentration reduction (e.g., Cu: F = 35.29–166.48, P < 0.000001). Under optimum PSC (2:1) culture conditions, maximum removal efficiencies were achieved, reaching 98.99 % for Cu, 99.24 % for Cd, 99.29 % for Fe, and 99.92 % for Zn within 14 days, significantly outperforming the PC (1:1) setup. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² > 0.95) described the adsorption process, confirming chemisorption dominance. The results demonstrate that nutrient-enhanced C. vulgaris cultures provide a cost-effective, green strategy for POME heavy metal removal while generating valuable biomass, supporting circular bioeconomy practices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950263225000328BioremediationChlorella vulgarisHeavy metalsPalm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)Phytoremediation |
| spellingShingle | Hemen Emmanuel Jijingi Sara Kazemi Yazdi Yousif Abdalla Abakr Azalea Dyah Maysarah Satya Bioremediation of heavy metals in palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Chlorella vulgaris: A biological approach Cleaner Water Bioremediation Chlorella vulgaris Heavy metals Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Phytoremediation |
| title | Bioremediation of heavy metals in palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Chlorella vulgaris: A biological approach |
| title_full | Bioremediation of heavy metals in palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Chlorella vulgaris: A biological approach |
| title_fullStr | Bioremediation of heavy metals in palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Chlorella vulgaris: A biological approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bioremediation of heavy metals in palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Chlorella vulgaris: A biological approach |
| title_short | Bioremediation of heavy metals in palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Chlorella vulgaris: A biological approach |
| title_sort | bioremediation of heavy metals in palm oil mill effluent pome using chlorella vulgaris a biological approach |
| topic | Bioremediation Chlorella vulgaris Heavy metals Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Phytoremediation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950263225000328 |
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